Maserati has rescheduled the unveiling date for its upcoming Porsche Macan rival, the Maserati Grecale. The crossover will now be revealed on March 22, 2022.
Maserati initially planned to unveil it last November but delayed the event, citing semiconductor shortages that would hinder production from meeting global demand adequately.
The company has released additional teasers, but after a series of teasers and spy photos, we already have a fairly clear idea of what the Grecale will look like.
At the front, it features Maserati’s new face, as seen on the MC20 supercar and the upcoming redesign of the GranTurismo and GranCabrio.
This includes vertically oriented headlights and an oval grille with a prominently placed trident badge.
Compared to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, with which it shares its Giorgio platform, there is a longer front overhang. Their silhouettes are quite similar, including a curved rear and a sloping rear door. Like the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, the Grecale features dual exhaust outlets.
The taillights draw inspiration from Maserati’s two-door models, and trident badges can be found behind the C-pillars, with Maserati’s characteristic vents on the front fenders.
Autocar reports that the lineup will start with a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine featuring an electric supercharger and a mild-hybrid system, likely a 48V system, as seen in the Ghibli Hybrid.
The UK publication drove a prototype of the vehicle, producing 220 kW of power at 5750 rpm and 450 Nm of torque between 2000 and 4000 rpm.
It has a curb weight of 1870 kg, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.6 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than a Ghibli Hybrid that produces 26 kW more power.
Optionally available is a detuned version of the MC20’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that Maserati developed in-house. The MC20 pumps out 463 kW and 730 Nm.
All Grecales will feature the Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s Q4 all-wheel-drive configuration, along with an eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic torque converter transmission.
Maserati states that the all-wheel-drive system can split the torque 50:50 between the axles, but in certain driving modes and for certain models, it can send power exclusively to the rear axle, a feature that sounds like a party trick for the Trofeo variant.
The company will also introduce an electric version of the Grecale in 2022, which will carry the brand’s new Folgore (‘lightning’) badge.
It will join electric versions of the MC20 and the upcoming GranTurismo replacement, providing Maserati with a rival for the upcoming Porsche Macan EV.
The V6 biturbo model will give Maserati a competitor for models like the BMW X3 M and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S, which generate 375 kW/650 Nm and 375 kW/700 Nm, respectively.
Available wheel options include 19, 20, and 21-inch alloy wheels, as well as a choice of traditional coil suspension with passive or adaptive dampers, and a three-chamber air suspension.
The Grecale also has wider tracks than the Stelvio.
Autocar’s test vehicle was still a camouflaged pre-production prototype inside and out but confirmed that the Grecale has a rotary drive mode selector on the steering wheel, as well as a distinctive new clock that is now digital and can be switched to display performance metrics such as g-force and braking pressure.
Evidently, Maserati is unwilling to abandon features requiring semiconductor chips, as some brands have been doing, boasting that the Grecale has “innovative contents, particularly in the areas of connectivity and human-machine interface.”
The Grecale is a crucial new model for Maserati, as it could represent a new entry point to the brand, depending on its price.
The base Ghibli is Maserati’s most affordable model in many markets, though it is undercut here by the base Levante.
There have been no indications of the Grecale’s price yet; however, it is likely to surpass the base Levante, which starts at $126,990 before on-road costs.
It is also likely to be priced higher than the Stelvio, whose basic model range is priced from $64,950 to $78,950 before on-road costs.
